Bangla Bandh: ‘Shirtless’ Adhir protest against lathicharge

Berhampore: On the 12 hour called Bandh by Congress in West Bengal, policemen lathicharge to keep Congress supporters at check at Berhampore in Murshidabad district of West Bengal. Congress MP from Berhampore, state party President and former Union Minister Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury took off his shirt to register his protest against the alleged lathicharge. Chowdhury even challenged the police to shoot him. "I want to see if the police has the strength of shooting at me. It is easy for them lathicharge supporters. We are going to observe the bandh no matter what happens. We are not scared of the police, who are acting as agents of the state government," said Chowdhury.

This 12-hour bandh was called by the Congress to protest against the death of the third year student of Sabang College, Krishna Prasad Jana allegedly by Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad members. Till 11 am, the bandh saw mixed reactions. The bandh has registered very little impact in South Bengal though some people faced trouble in Basirhat, where Congress supporters put a rail blockade.

In Kolkata, the Bandh has failed to register any impact.Places like Esplanade, Moulali, Gariahat and Hazra in the heart of city saw normal transport movement.Huge police force has been deployed across the city to ensure people to continue with work on a weekday despite the bandh.